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Families put the art back into our state of the art Newborn Intensive Care Unit

Families from across the region whose children were
born prematurely or poorly have worked with staff on the Newborn
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Saint Mary's Hospital for over a year
to help improve the surroundings for other families.

After moving into the new Saint Mary's in July 2009,
families welcomed the fact that the new unit was full of state of
the art equipment and it was much bigger and brighter than in the
old hospital. However, staff soon realised that whilst the
new unit ensured we could provide babies from across the region
with the best possible care, the size and the clinical setting
meant it was sometimes overwhelming to the families visiting it.
It was after Sue Emms spent time here with her
son, Dillon, that she approached the staff to ask if she could
develop a piece of artwork to not only provide a colourful welcome
but to also offer some words of comfort to
families.

Sue Emms said: "The idea behind the project was to provide
a piece of artwork that could help families navigate the unit and
brighten it up. When you're on the unit, you forget what is
happening outside the four walls of NICU and I think it's important
for families to be given some hope. The artwork continues
throughout the unit and finishes at the Parent Accommodation.
As families then walk back out of the unit, they can read quotes
from staff who work on the unit."
It has taken over 12 months of hard work and co-ordination but on
30th August, the artwork will finally be
unveiled to staff, families and everyone involved in the
project. On the day, the unit will also officially unveil the
Parents' Accommodation which has undergone a mini-makeover to help
improve the rooms that parents stay in. It will also be
re-named 'The Philip and Julie Neville Parent Accommodation' to
recognise the huge amount of fundraising the family did for the
Newborn Intensive Care Unit.

Julie Neville, who has produced 'Isabella's Story' to be
placed at the entrance of the Parent Accommodation said: "Philip
and I and are deeply touched and honoured for the accommodation to
be named after us. Sharing our story and being involved in
such an important artwork project and have it all link together has
been fantastic. We hope that all the stories and the
accommodation help to bring some comfort to families at the most
difficult of times."